B.) The Human Rights Situation in the Refugee Camps
42. This section of the Report examines the implications of the occupation of Western Sahara
by Morocco on the human rights of Sahrawis in the refugee camps. The delegation
visited three of the five refugee camps near Tindouf viz ; Smara, Rabouni,and the camp
called “February 27” where it noted the harsh desert environment in which the Sahrawi
refugees live.
43. The delegation observed that there is an
acute scarcity of water in the camps and
inadequate social services, which has led the refugees to be entirely dependent on
humanitarian aid. The delegation noted the following issues:
(i)
Victims of land mines
44. The 2, 700 KM long Moroccan Wall is protected by an estimated 150,000 Moroccan
soldiers stationed in fortified positions and contaminated with about 5, 000, 000 land
mines. Since the beginning of the conflict thousands of Saharawi civilians have been
victims of these landmines, with accidents happening almost every week. The
delegation met with some victims of the land mines. In spite of the cease-fire in force
since 1991, the number of Sahrawi people sustaining injuries from the land mines
continues to increase.
45. Victim assistance efforts have been limited. Medical facilities in the camps lack
resources, and services are dependent on international aid for medicines and materials.
46. Landmine contamination hinders safe movement for the local population throughout
Western Sahara (Occupied Territory and Liberated Territory). Whilst this problem
persists, the almost 165,000 Saharawi refugees currently residing in camps in Algeria
will be unable to freely move within Western Sahara.
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